Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-05-05
SCRUBS OR GRADES.
Figures Showing That 1t II . LxsaDg
Business to Raise Poor Stock.


Figures Showing That It II . Lxss.s
Business to Raise Poor Stock.
A farmer who wrote in favor Of
scrubs as "best suited to the average
farmer OF the country" had as low an
estimate of the ability of his brother
farmers as he had of improved cattle
thought he slandered both. His
strong argument was that the scrub
will hunt his own living, costs little,
and when he sold his two-year-olds for
$18 to $22 per head. and his three-year-
Odds for $25 to $35, lit was nearly all
clear profit" He spent nothing for
stabling, nothing for cutting fodder. "
The straw they used was the "chief
expense. as it could h.svs oeen sold to
make paper. Thoroughbreds. he
said. would not jump fence. "
His cattle were active. ate up pasture
clean. and wasted nothing. but they
were very ready to jump the fence or
tear it down. That, he admitted, was
an objection to his stock. Still. with
all that, they made their own living!
From his own showing. it is
doubtful if his scrubs, when sold at
$18 to $22. paid for straw consumed,
fences and crops de -royed. 1 believe
that the majority Of farmers agree
that improved stock is more profitable
than scrubs, yet they do not raise the
improved animals. Their belief does
not lead to a change of life and
methods. That some one may be led
to believe unto his salvation from the
thraldom of scrubs and poverty, let
us impress the lesson by few figures.
The time to sell good cattle is at two
years old, or at thirty months. A good
grade steer will weigh at this age 1000
pounds, and will brpg 81 cents per
pound, or $8S. Ten such steers will
bring $3.50. If farmer raises ten good
grade steers each yeal for ten years, he
gets for his cattle $500.
Now let us see whaI the scrub neigh
Dor has done. A scrub two years old
usually weighs about 100 pounds, and
sells at p cents pei pound, or one
scrub sells for $3.50, and ten scrubs
bring $175. In ten :ars, raising ten
scrubs year. the scrubby proceeds are
$3.50. In other words, the farmer
who raises scrub cattle ten years gets
for them the sum of $3.50. The
farmer who raises ten good grade
steers year for ten years gets for
them the sum of $500 diff
ference of $1,000 in favor Of the im-
proved stock.
Now which Of these cattle growers
has the most respect for himself and
his calling? In fact the man who per-
sists in earning only $3.50 in ten
years, when by more intelligent effort
he can in the same time earn $500 or
more, can have no respect for himself
or his calling. He is a hopeless scrub.
and yet the advocate for scrubs says
such cattle are ''bcst suited for the
average farmer in his county"
Nor is the showing in favor of inn
proved pigs any less encouraging. Tho
hazel-splitters at one year do well to
turn the scales at 200 pounds, and are
well sold at three cents. or IS head.
Forty such will bring $24O. The aver
age weight of well-bred pig of one
year is at least $50 pounds. have had
them to weigh $50 pounds ut one year,
but the average is $50 pounds. Such
pigs will sell readily at five cents when
the other class will bring three cents.
One yearling pig of good blood will
therefore bring $3.50, and forty of
tsem will bring 500. Ten years
growing hazcl-splitters 81. 400; ten
years growing well-bred hogs brings
$1,000.
1t pays to raise good stock. It is a
losing business to raise scrubs. But
the average farmer ought to raise on
100 acres ten steer: and forty hogs II
he raises good STOCK his annual income
is $50 for hogs and cattle. If i'm
feriOr stock, then his income falls to
$4l5. In twenty years the raiser of
forty good hogs and ten good steers
each year will receive $31, 1000 He
who raises forty ha Eel-splitters and ten |
scrubs year for twenty years will re.
ceive only $500.
Let the young farmer now decide.
whether he will work twenty-years
for $31, 600, and ha re the respect of his
ncighbors and his sons, or will work q
score of years for :iS.3OO and have the
sad reflection that he has been a fail
ure as farmer. This thing of raising
the best of its Kind. whether it be
stock, fruit or vegetables. has an ele.
waiting influence on the man and his
community. 1t gives him shekels in
his pocket and standing among his
rivals in business. -Cor. Ohio Farmer.
Court Procedures IN Europe.
Twas very much interested in the
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